violinist Min-Jin Kym looses instrument

Three people were arrested for stealing a 1.2 million-pound ($1.85 million) antique violin from an internationally acclaimed musician while she stopped for a snack at a London sandwich bar. South Korean violinist Min-Jin Kym was eating inside the sandwich shop outside Euston station on Nov. 29 when she noticed that her black violin case — which contained the 300-year-old Stradivarius as well as two expensive bows...MORE

Choir Conductor John Alldis has died

Choral director and conductor, John Alldis, was 81.  Obituary

John Alldis

2010 Grammy® Nomination for Best Surround Sound Album

Reference Recordings reports that "Prof." KEITH O. JOHNSON has received his eighth Grammy nomination! First release in Surround Sound. (Category 94 Best Surround Sound Album For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only)


BRITTEN'S ORCHESTRA Michael Stern & Kansas City SymphonyKeith O. Johnson, surround mix engineer; Keith O. Johnson, surround mastering engineer
David Frost, surround producer, Reference Recordings.

Cambridge Singers for Christmas Listening

There is no composer currently alive who has been more closely associated with Christmas music than John Rutter. For more than 30 years his seasonal choral music has gained him an international following. This major new album of over a dozen new compositions and arrangements together with Rutter's selection of favourite carols was recorded at London's Cadogan Hall and is the first all new Christmas release from Rutter's celebrated Cambridge Singers for 20 years. Accompanying the superb choir are the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and with contributions from the Farnham Youth Choir this is an album with a sales potential far, far beyond the average choral release. The Cambridge Singers are indeed in fine voice and bring to light the soaring melodic cadences of the new Rutter works like "Rejoice And Be Merry", "New Year" and "I Wish You Christmas". His new arrangements are strong too though there's only so much he could do with an over-jolly melody like "Nos Galan (New Year's Eve)", better known to you and I as "Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly". Having said that, the haunting Appalachian carol "I Wonder As I Wander" and the quite beautiful "The Shepherd's Carol" are two of the finest examples of Christmas music you'll hear this or any year. Reviewed by Tony Cummings

SHOP here for Rutter's A Christmas Festival 2008

Rutter on the WEB

SHOP The Cambridge Singers directed by John Rutter

John Rutter Collection

The John Rutter Christmas Album

Soprano Helen Boatwright, famed for her pioneering performances of the songs of American composer Charles Ives, has died in upstate New York at 94.

Born: November 17, 1916 - Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA, died in upstate New York at 94, 2 DEC 2010.

The American American soprano and teacher, Helen Boatwright (née Strassburger), grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin during the Depression. She began her training with Anna Shram Irving. Later she studied voice with Professor Marion Sims (1892-1980) at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Ohio), receiving the bachelor degree in music in 1939 and the master's degree in music in 1943.

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